Baseball: Mets outslug Cards on day of good news - Sports - International Herald Tribune

NEW YORK — For 2 hours and 36 minutes the New York Mets, the leader of the National League East, battled the St. Louis Cardinals, the leader of the NL Central, in one of the more stirring games of the season.

It began with Carlos Delgado and Albert Pujols going mano a mano in a grand slam derby, and ended with the Mets scoring seven unanswered runs, including Carlos Beltran's game-winning two-run homer in the ninth that capped an 8-7 victory on a night loaded with good news for the home team.

The Mets learned earlier Tuesday that Tom Glavine would not require surgery and could rejoin the rotation next week, then bolstered their undermanned outfield by acquiring the smooth-swinging veteran Shawn Green from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

An angiogram on Glavine on Monday showed no invasive procedure was needed. Glavine can treat the condition with medication, including baby aspirin, which acts as a type of blood thinner.

"We're always looking for pitching, and we had the little scare with Tommy Glavine," Omar Minaya, the Mets general manager, said. "But I still believe that the more offense you have, the better your pitching is going to be."

Minaya was about 15 minutes removed from watching the Carloses overcome an incredible display by Pujols and a rare terrible start by the Mets rookie pitcher John Maine, who was yanked for a pinch-hitter in the fifth with Pujols leading the Mets, 7-1. And yet, that was not all.

There was also the terrific relay from left fielder Michael Tucker and Jose Reyes, combined with a deft scoop and tag by catcher Paul Lo Duca, to cut down Ronnie Belliard at the plate in the fifth. There was Chad Bradford inducing an inning-ending double play by Pujols in the seventh, and Bradford getting Belliard to hit into another inning- ending double play in the eighth to keep the game tight and set up Beltran's dramatics in the ninth.

After Lo Duca singled with one out, Beltráa ripped a first-pitch cutter from Jason Isringhausen over the right-field wall. Beltran flung his helmet in the air and jumped on home plate in a rare display of exuberance.

"This is a potential playoff atmosphere," he said. "Whoever wins this series is going to make a statement."

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Pujols clobbered a huge opposite- field three-run homer in the fourth, then capitalized on Maine's issuing consecutive two-out walks preceding his at-bat. Pujols took two pitches before unloading on a low fastball and sending it deep into the left-field bleachers for his fifth career slam.

Delgado, who hit a solo homer in the second off Jeff Weaver, answered Pujols by crushing a 3-1 pitch over the Mets' bullpen in right field for his 400th career homer.

"It means I'm getting old," Delgado said of reaching the milestone.

Delgado is close friends with Green from their seven seasons together in Toronto. Green, a 33-year-old who was once one of baseball's premier left- handed sluggers, reinforces an outfield corps that lacks depth after the emergency trade of Xavier Nady, an injury to Cliff Floyd and the inconsistency of Lastings Milledge, a rookie.

A two-time All-Star, Green is hitting .283 with 11 home runs and 51 runs batted in this season, but he is in the middle of a prolonged slump that mirrors his career decline. Since July 20, Green is batting .194, and his average has decreased rapidly since he hit .374 in May. He batted .265 in June, .250 in July and .208 in August, as the Diamondbacks pushed him into more of a platoon role to give more playing time to the rookie Carlos Quentin.

Green enjoyed his best season in 2001, when he hit 49 homers, drove in 125 runs and batted .297. His acquisition was the culmination of a two-year quest by Minaya. In November 2004, on the first day of his first general managers meeting, Minaya spoke with the Dodgers about acquiring him for Mike Piazza.

In acquiring Green, the Mets also receive the best of the handful of Jewish players in the major leagues. The Mets have had few Jewish players in their 44- year history, with perhaps the most prominent one being Art Shamsky, who was part of a right-field platoon for the 1969 World Series champions.

Green made headlines two years ago when, while playing with the Dodgers, he chose to play in one of two games on the holy day of Yom Kippur. This season, Yom Kippur begins on the evening of Oct. 1, the regular-season finale in Washington, and will not intrude on the postseason.

In exchange for Green, the Mets sent the minor-league left-hander Evan MacLane to the Diamondbacks. The Mets will also receive $6.3 million to offset the $13.25 million Green is owed over the rest of his contract.